Chapter 66: No Peace
Authors Note: Thank you all again for your support and positive reviews. I am so glad you all enjoy the main antagonist Adrian and will show you just how evil he can be let's begin in 3…2…1…why did I just count, eh just read the chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Batman is not mine he's DC's.
Phoenix was currently firing his fire energy against Killer Frost's ice energy as Captain cold was now shooting his freeze gun at Zoom who constantly dodged each attack. Two ice villains against a team of elite and super powered assassins should be a cakewalk right?
Well that didn't turn out so well when a few new villains appeared and to the warriors surprise they were villains who shouldn't even be here. Black Beetle of course crashed the party along with Sinestro and Blackfire. It didn't take long for all hell to break loose.
Hitgirl was currently shooting her duel .45's at Sinestro who blocked with a shield he created from his ring. When Hitgirl ran out of bullets, Theodosia flew in and tackled him away from her. He quickly pushed the clone off her and slammed a giant sledge hammer down on her and sent her flying to the ground below.
Reaper and Whisper were currently running away from Blackfire's oncoming attacks, using their elusive tactic their respected teachers had taught them.
"This bitch is really starting to piss me off!" Whisper grunted as she pulled out her desert eagle.
"The feelings mutual." Reaper said forming his scythe gun. "This is gonna get hairy though, you ready?"
"Are you?" Whisper snapped back as they approached the dead-end.
Blackfire thought she had them both, but the two quickly ran up the wall and kicked off it and dived straight towards the alien criminal. The two tackled her to the ground and knocked her out and restrained her. Whisper wanted to put a bullet in her head, but Reaper stopped her just in time.
"What gives?" She asked.
"We need to figure out why she is here and why she is gunning for us." Reaper said in a stern voice. "She can't tell us if she's dead."
She was reluctant but she eventually holstered her gun and watched over her for now.
Phoenix and Killer Frost eventually broke from their standoff and engaged each other in hand to hand. Phoenix swung his fist towards the ice maiden and struck her in the face. Frost let out a snarl and formed an ice sickle in her hands and threw them at the young boy. Phoenix quickly shot the ice sickles and fired a fire bolt at her and struck her in the chest. She flew back and slammed into a nearby building and was knocked out instantly.
Zoom zigzagged around Cold fired his freeze gun at him, desperately trying to hit him. When that failed he froze the ground around him and made Zoom slip and fall on his ass. While he tried to get up Cold aimed his gun at him ready to finish him off when a fire bolt quickly shot his gun out of his hands. He clenched his scorched hand and looked over to see Gauntlet holding his magnum.
"Normally I'm a fire pun guy, but I'll make an exception." He grinned as he pulled back the hammer. "Freeze."
Captain cold let out a grunt and was about to retaliate but stopped when he felt the barrel of Dusk's gun on the back of his head.
Meanwhile, Sinestro was currently using his ring to create a large hand and suffocate both Breeze and Theodosia, but Artemis quickly came to the rescue and fired a putty arrow at Sinestro's ring hand. His power was temporarily blocked off and the two girls were free. Sinsestro was about to blast the putty off until Surge blasted a bolt of electricity into his back. The former green lantern agent fell to the ground unconscious, leaving only Black Beetle to fight.
Shadow had clashed his blade against Beetle's creating sparks with each strike. Both warriors were determined to kill each other as Beetle swung his left blade towards Shadow's neck. Shadow quickly ducked and slid between Beetle's legs and distracted him long enough for Thanatos to swoop in and tackle him to the ground. The mech landed heavy blow after heavy blow into the Reach warriors face, but Beetle was accustom to pain he could handle it.
He proved that when his chest formed a sonic cannon and blasted Thanatos off his chest and into the sky. As he watched Thanatos fly away Reaped jumped down with his scythe held over his head and brought it down towards Beetle's face.
Acting fast, Beetle rolled out of the way causing Reaper to impale his scythe in the ground. Beetle let out a chuckle and backhand Reaper across the road.
"Pathetic meat." Beetle smirked.
He was broken from his short victory when he felt two hot projectiles strike him from behind. The blasts melted his armor, but he quickly regenerated and turned to see Gauntlet and Phoenix aiming their fire attacks at him.
"You wretched little," Before he could finish he was cut off when an alarm in his suit started going off. It stopped after a few seconds and he started to grin victoriously.
"Congratulations, you fell into his trap yet again." Beetle smirked. "Now you will regret ever being born in the first place you pathetic worm."
"What are you talking about you freak!?" Gauntlet asked as he aimed his magnum at Beetle.
"Such a weakling, you'll figure it out soon enough." He then extended his wings and activated his jets. "You know Light said those gauntlets would make anyone the perfect warrior. I think they couldn't have chosen a more pathetic host."
With that he flew away, while Gauntlet and Phoenix fired at him from the ground. They eventually stopped when he was lost from their line of sight and regrouped with the team. When they got there the only members from the villains were the ice villains the rest were gone.
"What happened to Black Fire and Sinestro?" Phoenix asked.
"Gone, they just disappeared without a trace." Surge grunted as he leaned up against a car. "Now we're questioning these bastards."
Shadow, Apollo and Hitgirl stood over them with their guns drawn as they circled around them menacingly.
"Okay, now here's how it goes." Shadow stated. "I ask you a question and you give me an honest answer and I won't kill you. If you give me lips or lies I'll my associate and I will put a round in your heads and be on our merry way, deal?"
The two just remained quiet as Shadow looked up at Apollo. She had been preparing a heartbeat monitor that would pick up a lie in a second. She nodded to her boss and he looked down at the crooks.
"Good now, who sent you?" He asked, both he and Hirtgirl pressed their guns to the villains temples.
"Someone called Shadow Man," Cold grunted. "He didn't tell us why we should kill you he just told us to do it. He said he'd send backup but he never mentioned aliens."
"Apollo?" Shadow gestured.
"He's telling the truth." She stated watching the heartbeat monitor.
"Okay, leave these clowns for the police." Shadow ordered. "We're going home."
This took the team by surprise. They wanted to go get Adrian and put an end to his sick plans. So why was their leader ordering to pull back. Surge stomped up to his leader.
"Shadow, we know who the culprit is and we know where he is." Surge snapped. "Why the hell don't we go down there and waste him." Mystico stomped up to him and got In his face.
"We can't just walk up to the most respected man in the UK and kill the shit out of him." She grounded out while going on another tirade in Spanish. Shadow stood between the two and calmed them down.
"Relax, both of you." He said in a calm tone as the two backed down from one another. "Now, while I agree we could just waste him, we've already got enough bad rep as it is. We need to plan this out carefully."
"So what do we do?" Reaper asked.
"We take down his flunkies and he'll have no choice but to come for us." Shadow explained. "Ego maniacs like him can't wait for the final showdown you know and it's coming real soon."
"Okay, let's head back to the hotel then. I'm freaking exhausted." Hitgirl groaned.
"And I feel like crap." Breeze said looking a little pale.
"Are you sick?" Shadow asked out of concern.
"I don't know." She said as Star and Whisper came to her aid and carried her away. Shadow just watched while feeling a cold shiver run down his spine.
Something was about to happen.
(!)
Sarina was just lying on her canopy bed reading her book for her report when her phone started ringing. She checked to see it was an unknown caller so she just sent it straight to voicemail. After a minute that same number showed up on her phone again. She let out an annoyed sigh and answered it.
"Who is this?" She grunted.
"Joker Jr. Please be a part of our little family." Joker's voice chuckled on the other line.
Sarina flinched for a moment then her body went completely limp and her pupils became dilated.
"Yes daddy." She muttered in a monotone voice.
"Good girl, Funny Bone Warehouse now." He ordered.
"Yes daddy." She said.
She then got out of bed and snuck out through her window in her pajamas and into the garage where she hopped in her car and disappeared into the night.
(!)
While that was happening in Gotham Ms. Martian or Megan as she liked to be called was currently watering her Uncle J'onn's flowers in his apartment. It was something she did for him when he was busy in the Watchtower. While she was watering them she kept thinking back to Jayden and how much he's changed since his days on the team.
He was so bright and cheerful when she first met him, but after Jason's death he changed rapidly. The next time he saw him he had casted the alias Sparrow and had become Shadow. At first she paid no mind to it since he said Sparrow was Jason's partner and wanted some distance. Then after a while she noticed how lethal and hostile he had become and how he started carrying a sword and a gun. It was hard for her and the team to let him go, especially Richard who fired him personally.
She was quickly broken from her thoughts when someone started playing the violin in the living room. She quickly rushed in to see who invaded her uncle's home. To her surprise it was a young man wearing a long blue hooded cloak with shaggy white hair. He looked up at her with his ice blue eyes and smiled.
"Ms. Martian I presume?" He asked.
"Who are you?" Megan asked offensively.
"Sorry for the intrusion." He apologized. "My name is Light I was a former member of the Shadow Warriors." This surprised Megan.
"You were a part of Jayden's team?" She asked.
"Yes and I need your help." He said with urgency. "Jayden and his team have lost it. I don't know what has happened, but they completely ignored the no killing rule. The soul orbs have almost enough to reawaken Trigon."
Megan's eyes widened in horror there was no way Jayden would allow this. There had to be more to this.
"What are you talking about, Jayden wouldn't let this happen." She defended. "We were working together."
"Did he let you know that he was heading to London and executing more villains?" Light countered. "Or how he and his team withheld Azarath artifacts that could repel Trigon, should he return?"
Megan said nothing and just sat on the couch. She knew Jayden was a loose cannon hell his whole team was nothing more than a bunch of renegades. She was about to ask him how he knew all this when her communicator when off.
"What is it Aqualad?" Megan asked.
"Megan…It's time." He said in a low voice.
"What do you mean time?" Megan asked. Her chest tightened and her head started spinning as he continued.
"Megan, Superman just contacted me." He said in a hurtful tone. "Shadow went to London as did his team. They threatened one of their respected headmasters and nearly destroyed half of the town before killing a few criminals."
"No Kal, Jayden wouldn't do that!" Megan pleaded.
"Megan, we're heading to his headquarters right now." He said in a stern voice. "We're going to try and talk Jayden down and ask him to stand down."
"And if he doesn't which we all know he and his team won't?" She asked rhetorically. There was a long pause before he answered.
"We're leaving right now Megan." Aqualad informed. "I hope to see you there."
The line went dead and Megan slumped down on the couch distraught. She was so lost she didn't know what to do. That's when she remembered there was a stranger sitting on her couch.
"I know a way to stop the warriors without hurting them." He said as he pulled out a small green orb. "If you channel your power in this you will completely paralyze the entire Shadow Warriors in just a blink of an eye." Megan stared at green ball with curiosity.
"How will it do that?" She asked.
"Your ability to enter one's mind and wipe their minds fascinated me." He said in admiration. "This combined with your power will cause each warrior to cease up and be completely immobile for a few hours, more than enough time to convince Shadow and his team of their wrongs."
"I don't know…" She muttered.
"I'm only here to help my friend. Just like you." He said, getting up and setting the orb on the table. "The rest is in your hands now." He then made his way out the door leaving Megan standing there staring at the orb.
Outside Light was walking down the street when Cyrus walked up next to him.
"So did she take the bait?" Cyrus asked with a devious grin.
Adrian responded by playing his violin in a classical tune. Insinuating she was played like a violin. The two laughed wholeheartedly when Adrian's phone rang.
"Yes?" He responded.
"Hellooo!" Joker's voice rang. Both Cyrus and Light rolled their eyes.
"What is it Joker?" Adrian asked.
"I just wanted to let you know that my family is together again." Joker explained. Adrian's heart skipped a beat as he started to breathe faster in anticipation.
"And did you give her the orders I wrote out to you?" He asked anxiously.
"Yup, and she is on her way to greet our dear old friend Shadow and his team right now." Joker chuckled.
"Congrats Joker," Adrian thanked. "Now just keep an eye on her and we'll be in touch soon."
"Right-o!" He cheered before hanging up. Cyrus let out a disgruntled noise as they walked.
"When will we be rid of that clown?" Cyrus asked.
"As soon as we rid ourselves of the Shadow Warriors."
(!)
The Shadow Warriors were now flying home that night hoping to get some real work done. All the time they were flying Mystico explained what she learned from the book she got from Javier.
"So here's how the soul orbs work." She started. "If a soul is as black as night they harness the power of darkness and manifest it in their own image. I'm assuming this Adrian guy used these orbs to grant him his powers."
"Get to the good stuff." Gauntlet demanded. "Trigons return."
"Right well Raven sealed Trigon away and shackled him in a sort of Zero Universe." She stated. "Seven shackles that absorbed his powers and left him nothing but a hollow form of what he once was. So in order to release the shackles he would need seven hundred thousand dark souls to fuel his power and break the shackles."
"And then bring up the next apocalypse." Whisper grunted.
"Okay, so we find out where Adrian is holding up and destroy the orbs." Reaper suggested.
"And take down Adrian and Cyrus as well." Shadow said. "Thomas did you hack into Justice League's systems about those aliens that attacked us?"
"Yes, according to Hal Jordan's report they were broken out from the Green Lanterns custody." Thanatos stated. This surprised everyone on the raven.
"What kind of pull does this Adrian guy have?" Ronin asked.
"I don't know let's get back home and find out." Shadow said.
After they approached the mansions landing pad and disembarked they quickly made their way to the war room. Only when they arrived at the main hall they were surprised to see the whole Young Justice team waiting for them. Shadow glared at Aqualad as he did the same.
"Kal, what the hell is going on?" Shadow asked, resting his hand on his sword.
"Jayden, you and your Shadow Warriors need to turn yourselves in right now." Aqualad said in a low tone.
"What?" Hitgirl shouted making a grab for her guns, but was stopped by Reaper.
"What are the charges?" Reaper asked with bitterness.
"You and your team have been causing too many problems both inside and outside of Gotham." Nightwing said. "It needs to stop."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Thanatos said. "We go where justice is needed we're not confined to Gotham."
"You want to explain why you were holding out on us with the artifacts that could be used against t Trigon?" Robin snapped.
"Those were in Javier's personal vault." Mystico snapped. "We had the right to contain them as evidence."
"And you wouldn't even know about Trigon if it wasn't for us!" Artemis shouted.
"It doesn't matter you caused too many problems for us and to a lot of innocent people." Nightwing shouted. "Course it's not the first time you've disobeyed orders and authority for your own personal vendetta."
This pissed Jayden off.
"You should have told me about the plan Dick!" Shadow shouted. "You, Kal and Artemis going behind our backs to trick the Light, faking Kal's betrayal and Artemis's death you didn't think I would take it personal, it's your entire fault!"
"You turned your backs on us as well, so why should we care what you think?" Gauntlet snapped.
"Yeah, your stupid black list!" Whisper shouted. "And how you called my mentor insane!"
"They called all of us insane." Phoenix retorted.
"Hey Connor it's been awhile since we talked, what happened between you and Megan?" Shadow asked while Superboy and Lagoon boy scowled at him. "Is Megan with you now or is she still screwing fish sticks?"
Lagoon Boy was ready to kill him, but was quickly stopped by Megan. The Shadow Warriors started to share in the laughter as well.
"Did Robin loan you some Bat Cuffs for kinky foreplay?" Reaper joked earning more laughs.
"Enough!" Aqualad shouted. "Jayden you're acting like a child. This is not how a leader acts!"
The laughing stopped and the warriors readied their guns blades and powers and slowly stepped down towards the Young Justice League.
"You're right, I was actually going to ask you for your help, hell I was even going to swallow my pride and ask Batman for help." Shadow stated as he drew his sword. "But now…I just want to kick your asses out of our home."
Aqualad never took his eyes off the Shadow Warriors as his tattoos glowed blue and water flowed from his pack and to his handles. The water formed two glowing water blades as the rest of the Young Justice League members readied themselves.
"Have it your way…Shadow!"